Your skin isn’t what it used to be. Parenting, the sun and daily life have all taken a toll. Perhaps it’s time to refresh with the help of a professional. Skincare expert Cate Holliday of Juvly Aesthetics in Cincinnati and nationwide explains three popular noninvasive procedures to help you get back that youthful glow. Learn which one could be right for you, plus what to look for when searching for a specialist.
Photofacial Laser Treatment
Fine lines, wrinkles and sun spots – who needs ’em? With lasting effects to help reduce the signs of aging, photofacial treatments utilize intense-pulsed light (IPL) technology to treat dark spots, including freckles, and reduce the appearance of broken capillaries. Great for anyone with a busy schedule, photofacials stimulate new collagen cells to grow and improve the skin’s texture. Age spots initially become darker and then move to the skin’s surface where they fall away as part of the skin’s natural exfoliation process. After one photofacial, clients should expect to see and feel smoother skin, with the only side effect being slight swelling and redness for 24 to 48 hours after treatment.
“One great benefit of IPL treatments is that you can go right back to whatever you were doing before the procedure, as there is no downtime to follow,” Holliday says. “No need to miss work or have to skip picking up the kids after school.” Holliday recommends two to three visits, spaced four to six weeks apart, to allow the skin to completely heal in between treatments.
Microneedling
Would you trade the feeling of a sunburn for better looking skin? Microneedling can help patients rejuvenate their skin, or hide acne scarring, stretch marks, pigment issues and surgical scars.
The treatment calls for a pen-like device that pricks the skin, which promotes collagen and elastin production. With minimal downtime and 24 to 48 hours of redness, during which makeup should be avoided, most clients say their skin and scars have a better appearance, thanks to a thickening of the skin’s upper layers.
“Microneedling is one of the safest treatments we offer, with a very low risk of side effects,” Holliday says. “It can even be done on areas of skin that may not be suitable for peeling or laser resurfacing, such as around the eyes and mouth, hands and chest.” Expect anywhere from three to four treatments for mild to moderate acne scarring, or upward of five treatments for deeper scars and stretch marks, with maintenance treatments at six to 12 months.
Holliday cautions against using at-home “derma-roller” devices that claim to produce the same results as microneedling. “These at-home devices are intended to be reused and cannot be sanitized properly,” she says. “The needles become bent over time with repeated use, and the skin injury created is not even and does more harm than good. Our microneedling treatments use a state-of-the-art device called the SkinPen II with a brand new, single-use removable tip, and topical numbing provided in office so you feel nothing.”
Neuromodulators
Relax wrinkles, crow’s feet and frown lines with quick injections that require virtually no recovery time. Aestheticians at Juvly in Cincinnati administer Botox, Xeomin and Dysport, three injectable neuromodulators (aka “wrinkle relaxers”) with results that last three to four months.
“Wrinkle relaxers are actually made with a naturally occurring substance that helps to diminish the look of wrinkles and fine lines,” Holliday says. The active ingredient, botulinum toxin, temporarily relaxes the targeted muscle where it’s injected.
Botox is one of the most popular aesthetic services in the United States – and has been for more than 10 years – and it has only gained in popularity, Holliday says. “We’ve had clients as young as their 20s come see us for preventative Botox,” she says. “There is no standard age for starting your aesthetic treatment journey, as long as it feels right to you.”
Finding the Right Provider
It goes without saying that a skincare provider should be certified, and follow proper sanitation and healthcare guidelines. Holliday recommends going online to read reviews and to view an online portfolio of the provider’s work before committing to any treatment.
“We post all of our before-and-after photos on Instagram, and the results speak for themselves,” Holliday says. Sites like Yelp and RealSelf, where clients discuss their experiences and review them, can help reinforce your decision even further. “You should also look for clinics that offer complimentary consultations, so you can speak to the provider about any questions or concerns you may have,” she says. “There are a lot of choices in the aesthetics industry, and not all of them are equal to others.”